By PAUL STURM, C-T Sports Editor
Capitalizing on coincidental timing, the Chillicothe Mudcats college-level summer baseball team will have by far its largest contingent of players from a couple of the nation’s most-prestigious college baseball conferences, if the preliminary roster of players recruited by returning coaches Adam Steyer and Chris Emanuel holds up.
Head coach Steyer of Bellevue (Neb.) University and assistant/pitching coach Emanuel, now with Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., were in town last (Tuesday) night for the annual Mudcats “First Pitch” reception for supporters, sponsors, host families, and fans. A nice crowd turned out to hear a bit about the prospects for the 2010 season, which is slated to begin with a road game Thursday, June 3. The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, June 5.
In Steyer’s and Emanuel’s first season at the helm last year, they guided the club through a rough start to the National Baseball Congress World Series after the Mudcats won the MINK League championship for the second time in the team’s eight-year history. The team then posted its first-ever World Series victory before disappointingly dropping its next two.
Coming off the 32-17 season which matches the team record for most wins ever, the coaches said reaction from coaches and players on the recruiting trail this fall “was good.”
“Overall, it’s gone pretty smoothly,” Steyer said of recruiting.
Converging with the on-field success of last year’s team and the return of the coaching staff intact was the disbanding of the long-time Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins program which has been one of the league’s two elite teams for decades.
With no team of his own to build, the Bruins’ coach throughout their history, Bob Steinkamp, a part-time major league scout with connections around the country, helped the Mudcats get “in” with coaches of several Big 12 Conference and Southeast Conference teams.
With his assistance, the Mudcats currently project having six Big 12 and four SEC players plus one from traditional NCAA D1 baseball power Rice on their 2010 roster.
“As far as a lot of the D1 schools, some of the Big 12 schools, he did a good job of putting in a good word for us and we’re real appreciative of that,” Emanuel said.
At present, the coaches have signed 27 players to be Mudcats, including returnees Colin Parker and Alex Singleton of Chillicothe, outfielder Darian Sandford, and relief pitcher Scott Limbocker.
“We wanted to go a little big from the beginning because you’ve got to anticipate a few guys being late. (injuries, tournaments, etc.),” Steyer said in a visit with the C-T prior to last night’s event.
“In a perfect world, we’d have all 27 of these guys here because we feel like it gives us good balance and we can piece some good things together. There’s a long season ahead, as far as school ball goes, and a lot can happen between now and then in the classroom. You’ve just got to hope all of our guys go out and handle their business so they can get here.”
As for the possible up-side of having players from big-time college programs, Steyer commented, “Even the guys that don’t get as much playing time on that level that are competing with those guys on a daily basis and seeing that kind of talent in games is beyond what some kids that are playing every day (at other schools) get to experience. We’re expecting all those Big 12 and SEC guys to be big contributors.”
While the Mudcats again will try to form a foundation of strong pitching, defense, and speed, the head coach related, “Within that, we’ve got a lot of balance within our offensive players, guys that can all run and handle the bat, as well as supply that RBI pop. …When it comes time… for that big hit, we’ve got a few more guys – top to bottom in the lineup – that can do that.”
Although the college season is just now getting set to start, Emanuel acknowledged, “We’re just anxious to get going with baseball. …The time really flies by and we’ll be here before you know it.”
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By PAUL STURM, C-T Sports Editor
Capitalizing on coincidental timing, the Chillicothe Mudcats college-level summer baseball team will have by far its largest contingent of players from a couple of the nation’s most-prestigious college baseball conferences, if the preliminary roster of players recruited by returning coaches Adam Steyer and Chris Emanuel holds up.
Head coach Steyer of Bellevue (Neb.) University and assistant/pitching coach Emanuel, now with Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., were in town last (Tuesday) night for the annual Mudcats “First Pitch” reception for supporters, sponsors, host families, and fans. A nice crowd turned out to hear a bit about the prospects for the 2010 season, which is slated to begin with a road game Thursday, June 3. The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, June 5.
In Steyer’s and Emanuel’s first season at the helm last year, they guided the club through a rough start to the National Baseball Congress World Series after the Mudcats won the MINK League championship for the second time in the team’s eight-year history. The team then posted its first-ever World Series victory before disappointingly dropping its next two.
Coming off the 32-17 season which matches the team record for most wins ever, the coaches said reaction from coaches and players on the recruiting trail this fall “was good.”
“Overall, it’s gone pretty smoothly,” Steyer said of recruiting.
Converging with the on-field success of last year’s team and the return of the coaching staff intact was the disbanding of the long-time Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins program which has been one of the league’s two elite teams for decades.
With no team of his own to build, the Bruins’ coach throughout their history, Bob Steinkamp, a part-time major league scout with connections around the country, helped the Mudcats get “in” with coaches of several Big 12 Conference and Southeast Conference teams.
With his assistance, the Mudcats currently project having six Big 12 and four SEC players plus one from traditional NCAA D1 baseball power Rice on their 2010 roster.
“As far as a lot of the D1 schools, some of the Big 12 schools, he did a good job of putting in a good word for us and we’re real appreciative of that,” Emanuel said.
At present, the coaches have signed 27 players to be Mudcats, including returnees Colin Parker and Alex Singleton of Chillicothe, outfielder Darian Sandford, and relief pitcher Scott Limbocker.
“We wanted to go a little big from the beginning because you’ve got to anticipate a few guys being late. (injuries, tournaments, etc.),” Steyer said in a visit with the C-T prior to last night’s event.
“In a perfect world, we’d have all 27 of these guys here because we feel like it gives us good balance and we can piece some good things together. There’s a long season ahead, as far as school ball goes, and a lot can happen between now and then in the classroom. You’ve just got to hope all of our guys go out and handle their business so they can get here.”
As for the possible up-side of having players from big-time college programs, Steyer commented, “Even the guys that don’t get as much playing time on that level that are competing with those guys on a daily basis and seeing that kind of talent in games is beyond what some kids that are playing every day (at other schools) get to experience. We’re expecting all those Big 12 and SEC guys to be big contributors.”
While the Mudcats again will try to form a foundation of strong pitching, defense, and speed, the head coach related, “Within that, we’ve got a lot of balance within our offensive players, guys that can all run and handle the bat, as well as supply that RBI pop. …When it comes time… for that big hit, we’ve got a few more guys – top to bottom in the lineup – that can do that.”
Although the college season is just now getting set to start, Emanuel acknowledged, “We’re just anxious to get going with baseball. …The time really flies by and we’ll be here before you know it.”
